Wheel mount of skateboard and the like

ABSTRACT

A skateboard wheel mount comprises a base, an axle, and a torsion spring. The base is formed of a front plate and a rear plate and is fastened with the underside of a deck of the skateboard such that the front plate and the deck form a predetermined angle. The front plate is provided with a stop piece extending therefrom. The axle is pivoted by a spindle between the front plate and the rear plate and is provided with an urging piece extending therefrom such that the urging piece is located under the stop piece. The torsion spring is fitted over the front segment of the spindle for cushioning the wheel mount and for correcting the direction in which the axle turns.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a skateboard or the like, and more particularly to a wheel mount of the skateboard or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The conventional skateboard wheels are mounted on an axle which is pivotally fastened with a base by a pivot, without the use of cushions. As a result, the component parts are susceptible to wear which is brought about by friction. In addition, the skateboard can not be easily maneuvered by the rider when the skateboard is cruised on a bumpy surface, especially on the occasion that the axle is turned excessively in relation to the base.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a wheel mount of the skateboard or the like with a means to cushion the wheel mount.

[0004] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a skateboard or the like with a wheel mount capable of confining the rotation of the axle.

[0005] It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a skateboard or the like with a wheel mount capable of correcting the axle in action in due course so as to enhance the maneuverability of the skateboard or the like.

[0006] The wheel mount of the present invention comprises a base, an axle, and a torsion spring. The base is fastened with the underside of a deck of the skateboard and is composed of a front plate and a rear plate parallel to the front plate. The front plate is provided at the bottom end with a stop piece extending therefrom. The axle is pivoted by a spindle between the front plate and the rear plate. The front end of the spindle is extended beyond the front plate. The axle is provided with an urging piece extending therefrom such that the urging piece is located under the stop piece. Two wheels are mounted on two ends of the axle. The torsion spring is fitted over the front segment of the spindle for cushioning the wheel mount and correcting the rotational direction of the axle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in a first action state.

[0012]FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in a second action state.

[0013]FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a first relative position of the torsion spring and the bushing of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of a second relative position of the torsion spring and the bushing of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of the present invention in conjunction with a scooter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a wheel mount 10 embodied in the present invention is intended for use in a skateboard 12 or the like. The wheel mount 10 comprises a base 20, an axle 30, and a torsion spring 40.

[0017] The base 20 is fastened with the underside of a deck of the skateboard 12 by four sets of bolts 21 and nuts 22 and is composed of a front plate 24 and a rear plate 25, which are parallel to each other and are separated from each other by a predetermined distance. The front plate 24 and the rear plate 25 are of a rectangular construction. The base 20 is fastened with the deck in such a manner that the front plate 24 and the rear plate 25 form an angle with the deck of the skateboard 12. The angle so formed ranges between 25 and 65 degrees, preferably 60 degrees. The front plate 24 is provided with a through hole 241, whereas the rear plate 25 is provided with a through hole 251. The front plate 24 is provided at the bottom end with a rectangular stop piece 26 extending therefrom.

[0018] The axle 30 is provided at the center with a cross through hole 31 and is pivoted between the front plate 24 and the rear plate 25 by a spindle 38 which is put through the cross through hole 31 of the axle 30 and the through holes 241 and 251 of the front plate 24 and the rear plate 25 in conjunction with two bushings 37 for reducing the friction between the spindle 38 and the cross through hole 31. The axle 30 is provided with two flat portions 32 opposite to each other and respectively in contact with the front plate 24 and the rear plate 25. The axle 30 is further provided at the center with an urging piece 33 extending from the side thereof such that the urging piece 33 is located under the stop piece 26. The axle 30 is further provided at both ends with an inner threaded portion 34. Two wheels 36 are respectively mounted on both ends of the axle 30 in conjunction with two bolts 35 which are engaged with the two inner threaded portions 34 of both ends of the axle 30. The front end of the spindle 38 is extended beyond the front plate 24 and is provided with an outer threaded portion 381.

[0019] The torsion spring 40 is fitted over the outer threaded portion 381 of the spindle 38. A nut 42 is engaged with the outer threaded portion 381 to secure the torsion spring 40 at the front of the front plate 24. The torsion spring 40 and the spindle 38 are provided with a bushing 41 located therebetween. The torsion spring 40 has two load segments 44, between which the stop piece 26 and the urging piece 33 are held.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the skateboard 12 negotiates the curve, the axle 30 turns on the spindle 38 serving as an axis. In the meantime, one of the load segments 44 of the torsion spring 40 is urged by the urging piece 33 to swivel while other one of the load segments 44 is urged by the stop piece 26 to remain at the original position. The recovery spring force of the torsion spring 40 provides a cushioning effect as well as a correcting effect to guide the axle 30.

[0021] When the axle 30 is located at its initial position as shown in FIG. 2, there is a predetermined gap between the torsion spring 40 and the bushing 41, as shown in FIG. 7. As the axle 30 turns a predetermined angle, the body 43 of the torsion spring 40 is compressed to attach intimately to the bushing 41, as shown in FIG. 8. As a result, the torsion spring 40 can no longer be deformed. The axle 40 can no longer turn in relation to the base 20. In other words, the rotation of the axle 40 is so confined that the skateboard 12 is relatively controllable. The present invention is applicable to a scooter 50, as shown in FIG. 9. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A skateboard wheel mount comprising: a base fastened with the underside of a deck of the skateboard and formed of a front plate and a rear plate parallel to said front plate, said front plate being provided with a stop piece extending therefrom; an axle pivoted by a spindle between said front plate and said rear plate, said spindle having one end which extends beyond said front plate, said axle provided with an urging piece extending therefrom such that said urging piece is located under said stop piece, said axle further provided with two wheels mounted thereon; and a torsion spring fitted over a front segment of said spindle whereby said torsion spring has two load segments for holding said stop piece and said urging piece therebetween.
 2. The skateboard wheel mount as defined in claim 1, wherein said axle is provided with two inner threaded portions opposite to each other for mounting said two wheels in conjunction with two bolts whereby said two bolts are engaged with said two inner threaded portions of said axle.
 3. The skateboard wheel mount as defined in claim 1, wherein said base is fastened with the underside of the deck of the skateboard in such a manner that said front plate of said base and the deck form an angle ranging between 25 and 65 degrees, preferably, an angle of 60 degrees.
 4. The skateboard wheel mount as defined in claim 1, wherein said torsion spring is compressed by said stop piece and said urging piece to become attached to said spindle, so as to confine a rotating range of said axle in relation to said base. 